Electrical railway-switch.



No.646,l5,5. I Patented Mar. 27, 1,900. P. E. PERRY.

ELECTRICAL RAILWAY SWITQH. (Application filed 'Aug. 17, 1899.) (NoModel.) 2 Shoots-Shed I.

m: NORRIS PETERS 00., Pnorouma. WASHINGTON. D. c

No. 646,!55. I Patented mar. 27,1900. P.'E. PERRY.

ELECTRICAL RAILWAY SWITCH.

(Application filed Aug. 17, 1599.)

2 Sheets-Sh (No Model.)

THE gmnms PETERS 00.. crlo'roumou wunmsrcm. u. c.

' TENT rrrn;

UNITED STA ES"; I

PHILIP E. PERRY, OF BOSTON,;MASSAOHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TORANDOLPH O. SURBRIDGE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. Q

ELECTRICAL RAILWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 646,155, dated March27, 1900.

Application filed August 17, 1899. Serial No. 727,512. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- is adapted to come in contact with or wipeBe it known that I, PHILIP E. PERRY, a citialong the contact-plate 8,located in the roadzen of the United States of America, and a bed insidethe rail. The buttons abare con= resident of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk nec ted, respectively, with the brushesd d 55 and State ofMassachusetts, have invented which are adapted to come in contact withor certain new and useful Improvements in wipe along the contact-platese and 6 Electrical Railway-Switches, of which the folcated in theroad-bed outside the rail. The lowing is a specification, referencebeinghad connections of the buttons at b with the therein to theaccompanying drawings. brushes 0n the other side of the car are not [oThe invention relates .to that class of elec{ shown, as it will bereadily'understood that trical railway-switcheswhich are controlled theybelong to that part of the mechanism directly from the moving car orother vehiwhich is employed for operating a switch locle, and has forits object to provide a simcated on the left side of the mainlineinstead ple and eflicient means for operatingand conof the right, asshown in the drawings. r I 5 trolling said switches without thenecessity In order to avoid repetition and duplication, of stopping thecar or other vehicle and withthe invention is shown and described onlyfor out the operator being obliged to alight thereoperating a switch onthe right-hand side of from. the main track and with the car proceedingin The invention consists in the novel feathe direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 2o tures of construction hereinafter set forth 3. Thebrushes (1, d, and diareattached to and described, and more particularlypointed any convenientpart of the trucks, the two out in the claimshereto appended. former being attached, preferably, to a cross- Theinvention is shown and described as bar g at or near the rear wheel andthe latbcing applied to the ordinary electric streetter to the truckabout midmay between the 2 5 railway car. wheels. These brushes arepreferably made Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is' a as shown inFig. 7and consist ofawooden porplan of the road-bed, partially brokenaway. tion f, hinged to the cross-bar g or other por- Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same, showtion of the truck, the springs hit, and abrass ing a portion of car-truck and brushes. Fig. portion 2', let intoand bolted to the portion f. 3o 3 is a diagram of the wiring withbrushes The contact-plates e, e, and e are made of omitted. Fig. 4 is avertical transverse secsuitable conductive material and are connecttionof the switch and box containing switch ed-with the solenoids orlong-pull magnets, as mechanism. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail viewshereinafter set forth. In practice these conof the push-pin and lockingmechanism. Fig. tact-plates are located in the road-bed about 3 5 7 isaperspective view of the brush. Fig. 8 isforrty feet approximately fromthe switch to a side view of the car, partially broken away; heoperated-that is,when the ordinary douand Fig. 9 is a view of the rearend of same. hie-truck car is used. It would not be neces- Like lettersand numerals of reference resary to have them located so faraway fromthe fer to like parts throughout the several views. switch if a car witha shorter Wheel-base line 0 0 A- A represent the main line of a railway,were used, it being necessary to have them far B B a branch thereof, andO a car adapted enough from the switch so that the latter may to movethereon. be thrown before the wheels reach it. The con- D is thebed-plate of an ordinary switch, tact-plate e is substantially equal tothe sum and E the switch-tongue. of the lengths of the contact-plates eand e 45 F is a switchboard located on the dashand arranged, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, so board of the car and provided with the butthat thebrush cl will remain in contact with. tons or knobs a b a b, and c theswitch-hanthe plate 6 at the same time the brush d is die, said handlebeing connected with the traveling over and along the first half of thebattery G, which furnishes a current entirely contact-plate e and thatthe brush d will remo 50 independent from that employed in propelmain incontact with the contact-plate e durling the car, and also with thebrush d,which ing the time that the brush (1 is traveling along the lasthalf of the contact-plate e. In this way the circuits are formed, ashereinafter stated, by the simultaneous contact of the brushes with thecontact-plates.

H II denote boxes located in the road-bed and near each side of theswitch to be operated. These boxes, together with their contents, areduplicates, and only one will be described, the mechanism in the box Hbeing employed and brought into use when it is desired to send the carin the direction of the branch B B. The box H is waterproof and made ofeast-iron and provided with a lip g, extending all the way around theupper part, upon which lip a sheet-steel protection-cap h tightly fits.

t" denotes a sealing substance, such as paraffin or other waterproofmaterial, for the purpose of keeping out the moisture, and 7c the cover,the inner side of which fits tightly between the side of the switch anda shoulderl on the inner side of the box.

on is a solenoid or long-pull magnet connected with the contact-plate 6The solenoid (not shown) in the box H is connected with thecontact-plate c, all as shown in diagram in Fig. 3.

n is the soft-iron core of the solenoid, attached to the lower arm ofthe bell-crank lever a n, and 0 a plunger attached to the upper arm ofsaid lever. plunger terminates in the push-pin 1), made, preferably, ofphosphor-bronze and adapted to fit snugly into and to slide back andforth through ahole in the side of the switch-plate and when in itsnormal position having its end substantially flush with the inner sideof the switch-plate. It is to be understood that the push-pin is locatedsufficiently below the top of the switch-rail so that the flange of thewheel will not strike it and that the end of the pin is entirelydisconnected and is not in any way attached to the switch-tongue E. Theadvantage in this construction is manifold in that it permits of theswitch being thrown by the ordinary switch-stick independeutly of theelectrical mechanism and therefore without the danger of disarrangingsuch mechanism. Again, the switch-tongue is free to slide freely andsmoothly across the switch-plate, the latter being free from allobstructions and free from all holes, slots, or recesses whichordinarily become clogged from various sources, thereby reducing to aminimum the objections which have heretofore existed in switches of thisclass. Inasmuch as the current used for operating the switch mechanismis entirely independent from the current used for propelling the car,all danger of short-circuiting the latter current is avoided, whichdanger is present in all devices of this class which utilize the samecurrent for propelling the car and operating the switch. Furthermore, byreason of the arrangement of the brushes and contact-plates as above setforth and illustrated the circuit is produced by simultaneous con- Theinner end of the tact between said brushes and may at all times bedepended upon for positively and surely operating the switch mechanism.

(1 is a recoil-spring, one end of whichrests against the side of the boxH and the other end against a collar 1" on the plunger 0. s is a racksuitably secured to said plunger and provided with teeth 25 t.

K is a boss suitably attached and extending from the side of the box Hand terminating in two similar circular portions are, with a spacebetween them, and provided with central openings through which theplunger 0, with its rack s, is adapted to slide back and forth.

m is a small solenoid, the core of which terminates in afork havingtongues 11 and o. The tongue o is hinged, as at w, and pressed againstthe plunger 0' by the spring 13. The tongue o is rigid and is in contactwith the said plunger. The hinged tonguet' is irregularly shaped on itsinner side, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and is so constructed that therack will slide past it when the plunger is moved forward, and when theplunger has reached the limit of its forward movement the inner side ofsaid tongue will engage with the nearest tooth on the rack after themanner of a spring-dog, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. (5, therebylocking the switch mechanism after the switch has been thrown.

The solenoid m is connected with the contact-plates y y, located in theroad-bed a short distance from the switch and made substantially likethose heretofore described.

2 is a spring having its lower end resting upon the top of the solenoidm and its upper end pressing against a stud on the solenoidcore. Thefunction of this spring is to keep the tongues 12 and *u' in theirnormal positions and so that the spring-tongue 0 will engage with theteeth t i at the proper time, as hereinafter set forth.

The mode of operating the above-described apparatus inso far as it hasnot already been set forth is as follows: The operator or motorman justbefore the car reaches the contactplates 8, e, and 6 places theswitch-handle 0 upon the button I). As soon as the contactbrushes d and(1 come in contact with the plates 6 and e a circuit is formed,including the solenoid m, as follows: from battery, wire 1,switch-handle 0, button b, wire 2, brush (Z con tactplate 6 wire 3,solenoid m,wire 4,wirc 5, contact-plate 6, brush (Z, and wire 6 tobattery. The solenoid or long-pull magnet being operated by the currentin the eircuit,the core of the same pulls down the lower arm of thebell'crank lever 77. n, thus causing the upper arm of said lever to pushor thrust out the push-pin 19, carrying with it the rack 8, therebythrowing the switch-tongue over to the desired position. Shortly afterthe push-pin has reached the limit of the thrust the said circuit isbroken by the brushes (Z and d com ing out of contact with theirrespective contact-plates, and the push-pin commences to ICC regain itsnormal position by means of the force of the recoil-spring q, when thespringdog immediately engages or drops into one of the teeth t on saidrackthat is to say, the tooth that is nearest to itthereby locking themechanism, so that the switch'may not be displaced during the passage ofthe car over the same. Assoon as the brushes d and (1 come in contactwith the plates y and y, respec: tively, a circuit is formed includingthe small solenoid m, thereby causing the fork provided with the tongues12 and o to be pulled down, and thus releasing or unlocking themechanism by disengaging the spring-dog from the tooth t. When thiscircuit is broken by the brushes coming out of contact with thecontact-plates, the mechanism in the box H returns to its normalposition, ready to be operated by the next car to come along. If it isdesired to have the car proceed in the direction of the branch, itbecomes necessary to operate the mechanism in the box H, which is aduplicate of that contained in box H, as above stated. The operator ormotorman in this event places the switch-handle c in contact with thebutton a, thus forming a circuit when the brushes d and d come intocontact, respectively, withthe plates 6 and e, as follows: from battery,wire 1, switch-handle, 0, button a, wire 7, brush d, contact-plate 6,wire 8, solenoid in box H, wire 9, wire 5, contact-plate 6, brush d, andwire 6 to battery. The subsequent operation of these parts in connectionwith the mechanism in box H is the same as that above described inconnection with box H, it being understood that there are alsocontact-plates similar to y and 1] located near the branch track andconnected by wires g 11 with the small solenoid in box H for the purposeof releasing the locking mechanism.

It will be readily understood that when the car is traveling in adirection opposite to the arrow in Fig. 1 it will be necessary toprovide the car with a switchboard and connections similar to thoseabove described on what is now shown as the rear dashboard and thatbrushes similar to those above'described will be provided and locatedupon what are now shown as the front trucks.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a track, a vehicle adapted to move thereon, atrack switch tongue, electrical means for moving said switch-tongue inone direction, located in box H, electrical means for moving theswitchtongue in the other direction, located in box H, contact-plates e,e, 6 in the track-bed, contact-brushes d, d (1 carried on the vehicle,for forming contact with said contactplates respectively, an independentelectrical generator carried on the vehicle, in open circuit with saidcontact-plates, brushes, and means for moving the switch-tongue, acurrent-switch carried on the vehicle for closing the circuit throughbrushes cl, (1 contactlates e e and the ton ue-movin mechanp a a a a ismin box H, whereby the switch-tongue is positively moved to form acontinuous main line, and for closing the circuit through brushes d, d,contact-plates e, e, and the tongue-moving mechanism in box H, wherebythe switch-tongue is positively moved to form continuity with the branchline, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a track, a vehicle adapted to move thereon, amovable switchtongue, a push-pin unattached to saidswitchtongue,electrical means for moving said pushvpin and tongue in onedirection, means for automatically locking said push-pin, means forautomatically replacing said push-pin when released, electrical meansfor unlocking said push-pin, contact-plates e, 6 y, y, in the track-bed,contact-brushes 01, d fixed on the vehicle, for forming contact withsaid contact-plates respectively, an independent elec trical generatorcarried on the vehicle in open circuit with said contact plates,brushes, means for moving the push-pin, and means for unlocking thepush*pin,'and a currentswitch carried on the vehicle for closing thecircuit through brushes cl, d contact plates e, 6 and the means formoving thepush-pin, whereby the switch-tongue is operated andautomatically locked, and for closing the circuit through brushes d, (F,contact-plates y, 'y, and the means for unlocking the push-pin, wherebythe switch-tongue is automatically replaced on the passage of thevehicle, sub stantially as specified.

3. The combination of a track, a trackswitch with movable tongue,contact-plates in the track-bed, a push-pin unattached to the saidswitch-tongue, a solenoid with mov able core connected with saidpush-pin, locking mechanism for holding said push-pin to its place,electrical means for releasing said locking mechanism, means forrestoring the switch-tongue to its normal position whenreleased,contact-brushes, a current-switch, and a source of electricalenergy in circuit with said brushes, contact-plates, current-switch,and. solenoid, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of a track, a trackswitch with movable tongue,contact-plates in the track-bed,a push-pin unattached to the saidswitch-tongue, a solenoid with movable core connected with saidpush-pin, locking mechanism for holding said push-pin to its place, asolenoid for releasing said locking mechanism, means for restoring theswitchtongue to its normal position when released, contactbrushes, acurrentswitch, and a source of electrical energyin circuit with saidbrushes, contact-plates, current-switch, and solenoids, substantially asspecified.

5. A switch mechanism consisting of a movable tougue, an unattachedpush-pin bearing against the side of the said tongue, a solenoid foroperating the push-pin, means for looking the push-pin in position,means for retracting said push-pin when released, and

a solenoid for unlocking the push-pin mechanism, in combination with atraveling current-switch, anda source of electrical energy in circuitwith said current-switch and solenoids, substantially as specified.

6. A switch mechanism consisting of a movable tongue, an unattachedpush-pin bearing against the side of said tongue, a solenoid forprojecting the push-pin against the tongue to move the same, a springfor retracting the push-pin when released, a locking mechanism forholding the projected push-pin until released, a solenoid for releasingthe locking mechanism, and electrical means under control for operatingsaid solenoids, substantially as specified.

7. A switch-operating mechanism comprising a push-pin for moving theswitch-tongue, operative connections for moving said pushpin, a rack, aspring-dog for engaging the teeth of said rack, means for operating andreleasing said spring-dog and means for restoring the said pin and dogto their normal positions.

8. A switch-operatin g mechanism com prising a push-pin for moving theswitch-tongue, operative connections for moving said pushpin, a rackattached to said pin, a spring-dog for engaging the teeth of said rack,a solenoid or longpull magnet for releasing said spring-dog, and meansfor restoring said pin and dog to their normal positions.

9. In aswitch-operating mechanism,a movable switch-tongue, an unattachedpush-pin for moving said tongue in one direction, a second unattachedpush-pin for moving the switch-tongue in the opposite direction,independent solenoids for operating each pushpin,automatic means forreturning each pushpin, means for locking each push-pin, electricalmeans for unlocking each push-pin, an electrical generator carried onthe vehicle in open circuit with said means for moving and unlocking thepush-pins, a current-switch for closing the circuit to operate eitherpush-pin, or to unlock either push-pin, and brushes and suitabletrack-plate connections in circuit with said current-switch, andgenerator, and electrical operating means, substantially as specified.

10. In a switch-operating mechanism, a movable tongue, an unattachedpush-pin for moving said tongue, a spring locking means for holding thepush-pin and tongue in the advanced position, a solenoid for releasingthe said locking means, a retractile spring for replacing the push-pin,and means for replacing the locking mechanism, substantially asspecified.

11. In a switch operating mechanism, a movable tongue, an unattachedpush-pin for moving said tongue, means for actuating said push-pin,means for locking said push-pin in the advanced position, a solenoid forreleasing said locking means, means for replacing the push-pin when thesaid locking means is released, and means for replacing the lockingmechanism, substantially as specified.

12. In a switch-operating mechanism, a movable tongue, an unattachedpush-pin for moving said tongue, means for actuating said push-pin,means for locking said push-pin in the advanced position, a solenoid forreleasing said locking means, means for replacing the push-pin when thesaid locking means is released, means for replacing the lockingmechanism, and a second unattached pushpin, independent of the formerpush-pin, for replacing the switch-tongue at any interval of time afterthe former push-pin has been replaced, substantially as specified.

13. In combination, a railway main and branch track, a vehicle adaptedto move on said track, a movable switch-tongue in said track, electricalmeans for moving said switchtongue in one direction, independentelectrical means for moving the switch-tongue in the opposite direction,automatic means for replacing the switch tongue, independent lockingmeans for locking the switch-tongue in either position, duplicateindependent electrical unlocking means for unlocking the switch tonguein either position, contactplates in the track-bed for forming a closedcircuit through either operative means for moving the switch-tongue atwill, and through either unlocking means, brushes in circuit borne onthe vehicle, for making contact with said contact-plates, an electricalgenerator in circuit carried on the vehicle, and a currentswitch forclosing circuit at will through either switch -operating device, orthrough eithertongue-unlocking mechanism, substantially as specified.

14. In combination, a railway main and branch track, a movableswitch-tongue in said track at the intersection, a vehicle adapted tomove on said track, an independent electrical generator borne on saidvehicle, fixed brushes on said vehicle, in circuit for forming twodiflerent closed circuits, trackplates in the track-bed for forming twodilferent closed circuits in cooperation with said brushes, acurrent-switch on the vehicle for shifting the current through eitherclosed circuit at will, and independent electromotors for moving theswitch-tongue in opposite directions, one in each closed circuit,substantially as specified.

15. In combination, a main and branch track, a vehicle adapted to moveon said track, an electrical generator on said vehicle, trackplates inthe track-bed, a movable switch-tongue,an electromotortor moving theswitch-tongue, fixed brushes on said vehicle adapted to register withtwo of the trackplates at once, and a current-switch on the vehicle, forforming a closed circuit through the generator, brushes, track-plates,and elec-' tromotor, thereby shifting the switch-tongue, substantiallyas specified.

16. In combination, a main and branch tor, brushes, track-plates, andunlocking electromagnet, thereby permitting the switchtongne to bereplaced, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereto affixed my signature, this 12th day ofAugust, 1899, in

the presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP E. PERRY. Witnesses:

N. L. FROTHINGHAM, JAMES E. LEACH.

